Hijacker remanded in custody (Update 4)

Egypt’s public prosecutor has asked Cypriot authorities to hand over an Egyptian man accused of hijacking a passenger Egyptair plane and diverting it to Cyprus, Egyptian state television reported on Wednesday.

According to Britain’s Guardian newspaper, a statement from the office of the Egyptian general prosecutor, Nabil Sadek, said he had asked Cyprus to “take necessary measures to extradite [Seif Eldin] Mustafa in order to start an investigation”. But Nicos Christodoulides, the Cypriot government spokesman, told the paper: “It’s not true, we don’t have such a request. And to be honest with you, it would not be normal to have such a request when a police investigation is ongoing.”

News of the request came just hours after the 59-year-old suspect was remanded in custody for eight days.

Amidst tight security and a courtroom buzzing with foreign and local press, Mustafa appeared in Larnaca court without a lawyer and did not object to the remand order.

The court heard that after Mustafa was arrested on Tuesday, he explained to officers that his need to see his family was the reason he felt compelled to take such drastic action.

“When someone hasn’t seen his family for 24 years and wants to see his wife and children and the Egyptian government does not allow him to, what should he do?” he told police. He also made a series of other claims as to his motivation which police said they needed to investigate further.

The hijacker had four children with his ex wife who is Cypriot. One of their children died 10 years ago. Mustafa left the island in 1994.

None of the passengers and crew was harmed in the hijack. Eighty-one people, including 21 foreigners and 15 crew were on board the Airbus 320.

The EgyptAir plane flying from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and forced to land in Larnaca by Mustafa, with what authorities said was a fake suicide belt, who was arrested after giving himself up. The airport was forced to close for hours, seriously disrupting flights.

The court heard that the control tower was not initially informed by the plane’s pilot that a hijack was under way, so they did not grant permission for landing. It was only after the pilot claimed they were low on fuel that permission was granted.

The suspect, 15 minutes into the flight got up from his seat and went to the back of the aircraft where he showed a crew member the belt he was wearing which had cylinders attached and wires that led to a remote he was holding.

He then asked all passengers to surrender their passports, the court was told, and he gave a note to a crew member, asking them to inform the pilot that he was a hijacker and that he wanted him to land the plane either in Turkey, Greece or Cyprus, preferably the latter.

In the note, he said that if the plane landed on Egyptian territory he would blow up the whole plane.

After the plane landed at the Larnaca Airport, at around 8.40 am., he handed over a envelope with the name and details of a Cypriot woman – who the media are naming only as Marina – his former wife.

Inside was a letter which demanded the release of 63 women who are detained for their political views in Egyptian prisons.

During negotiations with the police and after he allowed the release of several passengers, he threatened to push the button of the remote he was holding and blow himself up.

A crew member told police that they believed there were explosives in his belt and that he appeared as a “stable and commandeering person,” and that he would carry out his threat, the court heard.

At around 2.45 pm, and after all passengers were released, the suspect exited the aircraft and tried to escape, but was arrested for hijacking.

Upon his arrest, police discovered that there were no explosives in his belt, but it was sent for lab tests, along with a container with a liquid substance that was also attached to the belt.

During a body search, a number of symbols were found tattooed on his body, court heard, which will too be investigated.

On board the plane, police also located a bag belonging to the 59-year old containing a number of documents written in Arabic, and bottle containing a liquid which was sent for further tests.

The suspect cooperated with the police and agreed to answer to their questions.

Police expect to receive around 40 more reports from the hijacked plane’s crew and passengers, relatives of the suspect in Cyprus and Egypt, and other people involved in the incident. Twenty-three statements have already been made.

An investigation will also be carried out, in cooperation with INTERPOL, the court heard, as to how the suspect was able to carry to the aircraft all the items found in his possession.

Police justified their request for his remand on the grounds that if released, he might influence testimonies of people the police aim to speak to, but also there were fears that he might disappear.

While leaving the court, Mustafa made a gesture with two fingers, raising them to indicate the V for Victory sign.

Mustafa faces charges for hijacking, the illegal possession of explosives, abduction, threat of violence, attempt to cause bodily harm with the use of explosives, reckless behaviour, and offences relating to the violation of the laws on terrorism and civil aviation.

‘During a body search, a number of symbols were found tattooed on his body, court heard, which will too be investigated.’ Exploding tattoos–yep, apparently they can inkapacitate.

Kevin

It would not be long before real terrorist hijacking a pane and the police treating him like a shoplifter as seen in this case here.

Stewie

I dont get it, if a pilot puts a hijack squawk 7700 (Usually a transponder panel is next to the throttle), he doesnt even has to say out loud on the radio due to security issues (Hijacker in the cabin), all he has to do is to request landing and ATC already knows how to react. This is a textbook scenario in ICAO. I think this was dealt quite unprofessionally. They all praise the Police etc but they didnt even cuff the guy as he walked down the tarmac, they didnt even search him, as he was leaving in the car you can see a pen sticking out from his pocket, thats a deadly weapon in many scenarios. Do we even have a proper SWAT team here which could be sent abroad for training? We are living geographically in a very unstable region, what is going on???

In all fairness, I do understand his reasoning though. If they send him to Cyprus Jail, he will get to see his wife more often than living in Egypt. And between jail and Egypt with it’s suppressive laws there is probably not much difference for him.

‘who the media are naming only as Marina – his former wife.; – erm, actually all the other media have printer her full name and surname.

Erik Martin (Reddit)

This guy chickened out. Trump 2016

Plasma Dawn

Trump Trump 2016.

Roger Thecabinboy

“Mustafa faces charges for …. the illegal possession of explosives,…., attempt to cause bodily harm with the use of explosives, “.

I got the impression he was not in possession of explosives so (If so) i am slightly mystified as to how he can be charged with illegal possession of or threat to use something he did not have: that is a bit beyond me.

As for how he got the stuff on board?As far as I have read none of it was seemingly illegal in hand luggage so why would anyone think to stop him?

Yeah exactly, and apparently he is also not a terrorist. Being in possession of or reading the anarchist cookbook will get you labelled as a terrorist, but hijacking an aeroplane with an agenda and apparent explosives is no longer called terrorism. Next we will be forced to stop calling the act of people taking other peoples wallets and belongings as a robbery, and instead call it asset relocation or something as ridiculous. While I am all for leniency and stuff for special circumstances, I still prefer calling a spade a spade.

BigApple

what tight security? the picture clearly shows the man in a car with an open window waving the peace sign!

Τσο&Λο

In handcuffs.

BigApple

In any other country a hijacker would not be sitting by an open window of a car waving his hands out.

By continuing to use the Cyprus Mail, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.